Dominance

Dominance...

"In that case, this 'hidden' branch of the Azure Faction no longer deserves existence!"

These words plunged the hearts of those from the White Deer Institute into a frigid abyss.

The old woman's threat hung over them, promising the annihilation of the entire White Deer Institute.

"Since you dare to play the role of sinners who disrespect the successor of the Azure Emperor, why should the Azure Faction even harbor a 'hidden' branch like yours?"

"Who in the blazes are you people?" The supreme elder locked eyes with the old woman and her companions. Their auras were as towering as the heavens, so overwhelmingly menacing that they could herald thunderstorms and torrents of blood within the White Deer Institute itself. No doubts remained—their power backed up their words.

"We are the guardians of the Azure Emperor's successor," the old woman declared icily, casting her gaze downward. Di Cheng and the rest of the aggressors went ashen. They found themselves encircled, a terrifying aura of impending death embracing them.

"We were merely observing, but we absolutely will not permit any harm to befall the Azure Emperor's successor. Would you kindly exercise mercy?" Another supreme elder implored.

With these newcomers on the scene, Qin Wentian's true identity could no longer be denied.

"We trust you," she replied. "However, while we were quietly observing, certain individuals seemed to have forgotten their place. They dared to move against the successor. There is no reason for them to continue living."

Her words resonated, and a lifeless body descended from the heavens. A shiver ran through the spectators as they recognized the face of the corpse—it belonged to Grandmaster Penga, the Heavenly Dipper Sovereign who had targeted Qin Wentian. He had met his end.

While the supreme elders of the Institute bore witness to the unfolding events, so did this new group.

Witnessing the insolence, how could they not eliminate these impudent offenders to establish their dominance? Or else, in a few thousand years, would all the 'hidden' branches of the Azure Faction forget the reverence once accorded to the name of the Azure Emperor? Would they lose even the most basic respect for the successor of the Azure Emperor?

"I am a descendant of the Di Clan, a direct heir of the Azure Emperor's main bloodline!" Di Cheng blurted out, his voice fraught with desperation as he locked eyes with the old woman, her chilling intent coiling around his heart.

The old woman shifted her gaze toward Di Cheng, her icy demeanor unyielding as she declared, "Being a descendant of the Di Clan, you should have adhered to the Azure Emperor's final commands even more steadfastly. Knowing the rules and breaking them, you are even more deserving of death."

With her words, she brandished her snake staff, conjuring a manifestation of a furious demonic serpent. The creature's maw stretched open, hurtling toward Di Cheng with an intent to consume him.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" Di Cheng's face drained of color. He hadn't expected these individuals to truly seek his life. Dying was far from his desire.

An overwhelming suction force enveloped him. He attempted to evade, but it was futile—he was drawn into the serpent's jaws and vanished completely, meeting a gruesome end.

The scene was grisly to behold. Di Cheng's protector aimed to flee, only to be confronted by a withered old man who blocked his path. A surge of ominous qi radiated from the old man's palms, enveloping the protector. In an instant, in mere moments, the protector's body disintegrated entirely.

"What a formidable Mandate," Qin Wentian shivered involuntarily as he felt the Mandate's power. He understood that facing it, he would undoubtedly meet the same fate—death.

Now he comprehended why Di Yi had been entrusted with safeguarding the hidden map. Only Fairy Qingmei's Celestial Lake Palace's Refinement Grounds could decode the map's secret.

The Azure Emperor must have foreseen that his successors wouldn't be easily controlled by his legacy. Thus, he tasked the person he trusted most—Fairy Qingmei—with this responsibility. She silently guarded his successor.

Di Cheng and his protector met an unceremonious demise. Di Feng stood in silence, his eyes gleaming brightly. He had already surmised the origin of these guardians.

He hadn't anticipated that the shadow of Fairy Qingmei loomed so large. With this revelation, his path to becoming the future leader of the Azure Faction became markedly steeper.

Bailu Tong and Bailu You paled as they witnessed Di Cheng's death. The scent of death hung heavy around them, an ominous foreboding that chilled their spirits.

How had it come to this? They had never fathomed that their pursuit of the ancient scroll would plunge them into the jaws of death.

"In your role as protectors of the Azure Emperor's successor, must you be so merciless?" Bailu Tong's father stepped forward, unable to witness his kin's demise without resistance.

"Execute them." The middle-aged woman hovered in the sky, her baleful aura undiminished by the elder's plea. Instead, it surged even stronger. Just her gaze alone set the elder's heart pounding with trepidation. Her might surpassed his by far, rendering him immobilized by fear, unwilling to act rashly.

"Geh, geh." The enchantress emitted an eerie giggle as she descended, while the withered old man's palm quivered, sending forth an aura of corrosion that enveloped the vicinity of Bailu Tong and Bailu You.

"Bzzz."

Feathered wings sprouted from Bailu Tong's back, propelling him skyward in a desperate bid for escape. Yet a hulking figure swooped down, forcefully driving him back to earth with a thunderous stomp. The earth fissured beneath the impact, forming a crater where Bailu Tong lay.

Gravity constricted the space around their targets, leaving no room for their prey to flee.

"YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR." Bailu Tong's father radiated a menacing aura.

"Restrain him," the middle-aged woman ordered, her gaze shifting to the other supreme elders. "Or don't be surprised if the White Deer Institute loses another elder."

"ARGHHH…" An anguished cry pierced the air. Bailu You's body decayed at an alarming rate. Within moments, he dissolved into a pool of blood.

Bailu You could never have imagined that his demise would transpire in the very place he had called home, his life extinguished to assert the dominance of these protectors.

"The Azure Emperor established the 'hidden' branches of the Azure Faction not for your comfort and contentment. Have you all forgotten your ancestral teachings? Your sole purpose for existence was to await the emergence of the Azure Emperor's successor, rallying under him to restore glory. As descendants of a 'hidden' branch, while you possessed the right to 'test' the successor, you showed no respect. Thus, for a modest branch like yours, continued existence is unnecessary."

The middle-aged woman's voice was as frigid as ice. "The White Deer Institute isn't the sole 'hidden' branch of the Azure Faction. However, since Young Master Qin is now here, you must decide whether to serve him. But heed this: even sans the White Deer Institute's backing, the resurgence of the Azure Faction remains unaffected. And then, do not accuse me of not warning you. As the Azure Faction ascends once more, it will naturally reorganize its branches. By then, the power of choice will no longer rest with you. Consider well—even if you wish for autonomy, ask if you possess sufficient strength."

Her words contained an implicit threat, yet her message was crystal clear—Your White Deer Institute currently possesses the choice, but weigh your decision carefully. In the future, when Qin Wentian wields enough influence to control the other 'hidden' branches of the Azure Faction, propelling them to the zenith of Grand Xia, the White Deer Institute will inevitably be left trailing behind in their wake. At that juncture, even if the White Deer Institute yearns to pledge fealty, the decision to accept will rest solely with Qin Wentian.

At this moment, the four supreme elders and the White Deer Institute's Headmaster had assembled.

Bailu Yi's great-grandfather stepped forward, addressing the middle-aged woman. "I'm well-informed about the matter. The White Deer Institute harbors no objections to your course of action. They have shown blatant disrespect to our ancestor's successor, and as you've aptly said, they deserve death."

As the Headmaster, he comprehended his role. Irrespective of whether the White Deer Institute opted to fully align with Qin Wentian, they couldn't afford to provoke him. With such formidable support, it would prove challenging even if Qin Wentian preferred to remain inconspicuous.

In his heart, Qin Wentian privately sighed. It seemed that sheer talent alone wasn't sufficient to sway the convictions of the institute's core members. He understood that without the substantial backing of the Celestial Lake Palace, today's events might not have unfolded so smoothly.

"Puchi!" A crisp sound reverberated. As onlookers shifted their gaze toward Bailu Tong, several core members involuntarily shivered, inhaling sharply.

Thus, an elder of the White Deer Institute had met his end today.

How could he have ever foreseen that his intricate schemes would culminate in his own demise? All his machinations stemmed from the initial plan to enlist those fourth-ranked Grandmasters to pressure Qin Wentian. Ultimately, numerous experts had perished on this day.

"Young Master Qin, in regard to today's events, is there anyone else you wish to reprimand?" the Headmaster inquired, his tone respectful.

"Senior, you can address me as Wentian," Qin Wentian replied with a smile. "And if Senior doesn't mind, you can think of me as Little Yi. It would be my pleasure to address you as Great-Grandfather."

"Excellent, then I'll unashamedly accept," the Headmaster responded, touched by Qin Wentian's courteous demeanor. This young man displayed commendable character, devoid of the arrogance that often accompanied great power.

"Great-Grandfather, you flatter me. No one could have anticipated today's events. I must apologize for what transpired," Qin Wentian said with a bow, prompting the Headmaster to wave it off.

"This incident doesn't involve you. It's rather due to my own failure in instilling proper values in my members."

"As the Great Elder, I too share blame," the large-eyed elder added. The incident had strained the relationship between the Institute and Qin Wentian, an outcome nobody wished for. Mending the divide today was undoubtedly the optimal path forward.

"Great Elder, your kindness has always resonated with me. I've never forgotten the fairness you've shown. The events today have no connection to you," Qin Wentian stated.

With their desire for dominance now established, the Celestial Lake Palace's experts had already eliminated the primary instigators—Bailu Tong and Bailu You, the father-and-son duo. Recognizing the Great Elder's integrity, Qin Wentian aimed to avoid any further turmoil within the White Deer Institute. Swift reconciliation was ideal.

In essence, although the institute's behavior had shown a lack of respect towards him, he could empathize with their perspective and therefore held no grudges.

Traces of tenderness flitted through the middle-aged woman's eyes. She was profoundly content with Qin Wentian's choice.

She had deliberately assumed the role of the executioner to deflect negative sentiments away from Qin Wentian. Let her Celestial Lake Palace shoulder the role of the antagonists.

Qin Wentian's ultimate goal was to lead the Azure Faction. Prolonging discord between him and the 'hidden' branches, which would eventually become his vassals, was far from beneficial.

Her gaze then fixed upon Di Feng, and the middle-aged woman commanded, "Inform your elders, remind them of the Azure Emperor's final directives."

Di Feng's demeanor remained undisturbed. He bowed to the middle-aged woman and responded, "I understand, and I'll certainly communicate this to my elders."

A glint of sharpness danced within the middle-aged woman's eyes upon observing Di Feng's reaction. Di Feng had been earmarked as the Di Clan's chosen successor, destined to emerge as Qin Wentian's most formidable competitor in the race for control over the Azure Faction.

Yet, this also constituted a challenge for Qin Wentian, echoing the path the Azure Emperor himself once trod—confronting every obstacle head-on and emerging victorious.

"Having conveyed the emergence of the Azure Emperor's successor to my clan's elders, I bid you farewell." With a respectful bow to the crowd and the supreme elders, Di Feng clasped his hands together and departed without further ado.